▪ I. blaspheme, v.
(blɑːsˈfiːm, -æ-)
Forms: 4 blasfeme(n, 5 -yn, (blasefleme), 7 blaspheam, 4– blaspheme.
[ME. blasfeme-n, a. OF. blasfeme-r (= Pr., Sp. blasfemar), ad. L. blasphēmā-re, ad. Gr. βλασϕηµέειν to speak profanely, f. βλάσϕηµος evil speaking, blasphemous (-ϕηµος speaking). Transferred to L. in the Vulgate and eccles. writers, and preserved liturgically in the modern langs. The same word became popular in late L. in sense of ‘revile, reproach,’ whence Romanic *blasimāre, It. biasimare, Pr. blasmar, F. blasmer, blâmer, Eng. blame.]
1. intr. To utter profane or impious words, talk profanely. Const. against (in Wyclif also in, upon).
| 1340 Ayenb. 30 Ha..blasfemeþ aye god and his halȝen. 1382 Wyclif Mark iii. 29 He that shal blasfeme aȝeins [1611 blaspheme against] the Holy Gost. ― Sel. Wks. III. 170 Ȝif freres by gabbingis blasfeme upon Crist. Ibid. 349 Þei blasfemen in Crist. c 1440 Gesta Rom. 381 Then the soule began to blasefleme. 1595 Shakes. John iii. i. 161 Brother of England, you blaspheme in this. 1711 Addison Spect. No. 99 ¶7 One may tell another he whores, drinks, blasphemes. 1821 Byron Cain i. i. 35 Blaspheme not; these are serpents' words. 1835 J. G. Dowling Lett. Dr. Maitland 17 They..blaspheme against the precious cross. |
2. trans. To speak irreverently of, utter impiety against (God or anything sacred.)
| 1382 Wyclif Isa. i. 4 Thei blasfemeden the hoeli of Irael. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 4 b, They not onely despysed hym, but also they blasphemed the holy goost. 1593 Shakes. 2 Hen. VI, iii. ii. 372 Blaspheming God, and cursing men on earth. 1795 Burke Let. Wks. VII. 350 He is ready to blaspheme his God, to insult his king. 1872 Ruskin Eagle's Nest §240 New foulness with which to blaspheme the story of Christ. |
3. gen. To speak evil of, revile, calumniate, abuse.
| c 1386 Chaucer Sompn. T. 475 As that this olde cherl with lokkes hoore Blasphemed hath oure hooly Couent eke. 1605 Shakes. Macb. iv. iii. 108 Since that the truest Issue of thy Throne..do's blaspheme his breed. 1654 Earl of Orrery Parthen. (1676) 327 As soon as this fatal news came to Pacorus's knowledge, he blasphem'd them for it. 1725 Pope Odyss. xiv. 462 While those who from our labours heap their board, Blaspheme their feeder and forget their lord. 1847 Tennyson Princ. iv. 119 So they blaspheme the muse! |
† b. intr. To rail, to utter words of abuse. rare.
| a 1592 Greene Arbasto vi, Doralicia chafed much in her choller, blaspheming bitterly both against me and her sister. |
▪ II. † blaspheme, a. and n.1 Obs.
Also 4–5 blasfem(e.
[a. F. blasphème, ad. L. blasphēmus, ad. Gr. βλάσϕηµος; see prec.]
A. adj. Blasphemous.
| 1382 Wyclif 2 Macc. x. 4 To barbaris, or heithen, and blasfeme men. c 1410 Love Bonavent. Mirr. xxxiv. 66 (Gibbs MS.), To haue stoned hym as blaspheme [1530 a blasphemer]. |
B. n. A blasphemer.
| 1382 Wyclif Sel. Wks. III. 347 Shulden siche blasfemes be stoned to deeþ. 1401 Pol. Poems (1859) II. 93 The Pharisees, pursuwed Crist to the dethe, ȝe, callid hym a blasfeme. |
▪ III. † blasˈpheme, n.2 Obs.
[a. F. blasphème (in 12th c. also blafeme:—L. blasphēmia blasphemy. (In Chaucer also accented ˈblaspheme.)]
The earlier word for blasphemy.
| 1384 Chaucer Scogan 15 In blaspheme of the goddis? c 1386 ― Pard. T. 265 Cursed forswerynges, Blaspheme of crist, mansclaughter. 1526 Pilgr. Perf. (W. de W. 1531) 138 With many suche blasphemes and prouocacyons to impacyence. 1583 T. Watson Poems (Arb.) 153 Yet glorious heauns, ô pardon my blaspheme. |